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| Martha Washington Marsh Kaufman; Kaufman Album, Page 7, in the possession of Dorothy Crooks. Back: Waukesha, Wisconsin; Tyler & Bugbee (photographers). |
Martha Washington Marsh was born February 22, 1834, in New York City, daughter of Daniel Cressy Marsh and Sophia Emily Pitcher. Per Gramie, Daniel and Sophia also had a son who died in infancy at the NYC family home.
When Sophia died in 1839, Daniel married Rachel Purcell, and they had 6 children together: Charlotte Emily (1840), Maria Louise (1842), Sanford Samuel (1844), Henrietta Adelaide (1846), Anna Sophia (1850) and Henry. The first 3 children were born in New York, the last 3 children in Wisconsin. Those born in New York were probably born in Erie County, on the east shore of Lake Erie, to which Daniel returned in 1845 to fetch his family, after obtaining land and building a home near North Lake, Wisconsin. Martha's stepmother Rachel died in 1853 and Rachel's youngest child Henry died shortly thereafter. So Martha was just 5 when she lost her mother and then just 19 when she lost her stepmother! In June 1855, Daniel married his third wife, Isabelle Snyder, and had 5 more children: James Barney, Adeline, Frank D., Norman Eugene and Edith Estella. In addition, Isabelle brought 4 children from a previous marriage! So Daniel Marsh had 13 children and at least 4 stepchildren! One of the stepdaughters married a John B. Muir, the source of the 'story' that we were related to John Muir, the naturalist! I compared this John Muir with the naturalist and they do NOT match!
Our earliest known Marsh ancestors are John Marsh and his wife, Grace Baldwin, 10-great grandparents. Their son, John, was born in England, but came to Massachusetts in 1633. He later moved to Hartford CT, where he was one of the original proprietors, and married the daughter of the Deputy Governor of the Connecticut Colony. In 1660, he moved to Hadley MA, where the Marsh family lived until Augustus Marsh came to St. Albans VT in about 1802. Augustus' wife, Hannah Cressey, had a brother Benjamin who lived in New York City. Thus, several of Hannah's sons moved to NYC to work as carters, who transported goods by wagon. Gramie was very proud of her Marsh ancestry and admired their 'fine manners'.
On February 23, 1855, Martha Washington Marsh married Charles Walter Kaufman and they had 8 children together. Their children are: Charles William Walter (1855), Mary Emily Sophia (1857), Caroline Amelia (1860), Samuel Sanford (1862), Violette Melissa (1865), Josephine Adela (1869), Eddie (1872) and Mattie Ann (1874). Eddie died before he was a year old and was their only child not to reach adulthood.
When Charles died in 1875. Martha lived 47 more years after her husband's death! Martha owned many acres of land, and was no doubt assisted by her sons and brothers. In 1880, she lived in Merton with her 5 youngest children, 4 daughters and 1 son. Her son Charles lived adjacent to her. In 1900, Martha lived with her widowed half-brother, Frank, in Merton. In 1901, she sold her property, which had probably become too much work! Martha then moved to Milwaukee, where she lived with her eldest daughter, Mary Smith, also widowed, and her grandson Charles Smith.
Martha Washington Marsh died on May 10, 1922, age 88, of 'cerebral softening/degeneration' and 'general arteriosclerosis of senility'. She died at her home and was buried at St. Peter's Episcopal Church Cemetery in North Lake WI, near family.
According to Gramie, Martha was very beautiful, rich and spoiled. She did not want her son, Charles William Walter Kaufman, to marry Jenny Coon (our great-grandparents). According to Mom, Gramie inherited $100 from her grandmother (Martha Washington Marsh Kaufman) and used the money to buy a fur cape.
Written by Dorothy Crooks, her great-great-granddaughter.
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